Ladder of Participation

Ladder of Participation: The 'Ladder of Participation' is a theory of citizen participation proposed by Sherry Arnstein in 1969. It states that there are 8 'rungs' on the ladder of participation that illustrate resident involvement in institutional programming, ranging from 'manipulation' to 'citizen control.'

Apply: The Ladder of Participation can be used in community development work when determining what type of and how much control program staff will give to participants. For example, when an organization decides to initiate a community development project, they have to determine what roles staff will have and what roles residents will have.  They could decide to give complete control to citizens (citizen control, 8th rung) and merely provide funding, or they could just give residents a head's up (inform, 3rd rung) when they are making decisions about programming.

Adapt: This model can also be utilized by government offices.  For example, if a city is embarking on an initiative to increase access to entrepreneurial endeavors for immigrants, they have to decide who will be involved in the project.  They could make decisions about programming without talking to immigrants (rung: manipulate or therapy) or they could incorporate immigrants and immigrant-led organizations in the process (rung: partnership or delegated power).  How they go about deciding on participatory roles for immigrants will change how the initiative is received and, ultimately, whether or not it is successful.

Sources: Arnstein, Sherry. (1969). A Ladder of Citizen Participation. AIP Journal, July 1969.